03/01 Thu. Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Adm. M.
A. Mitscher) attack enemy ground installations,
aircraft, and shipping in the Okinawa area, Ryukyu
Islands.
Army troops supported by naval gunfire and Army
aircraft land on Lubang Island, P. I.
United States naval vessels damaged, Iwo Jima area:
Destroyers TERRY (DD-513) and COLHOUN (DD-801), by
coastal defense gun,
24 d. 47'N., 141 d. 21'E.
Attack transport BERRIEN (APA-62), by collision,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Torpedo boat MANAZURU, by carrier-based aircraft,
Ryukyu Islands area,
26 d. 17'N., 127 d. 35'E.
Minelayer TSUBAME, by carrier-based aircraft,
Formosa area,
24 d. 23'N,, 124 d. 12'E.
03/02 Fri. Cruiser and destroyer task group (Rear Adm. F. E. M.
Whiting) bombards Japanese positions on Okino Daito
Jima, Ryukyu Islands.
Destroyers bombard enemy on Parece Vela Reef in the
Philippine Sea.
United States naval vessels damaged, Iwo Jima area:
Attack cargo ship STOKES (AKA-68), LST 224,
LST 247, LST 634, by collision,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
LST 642, by grounding,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
03/03 Sat. Army troops land on Masbate, Burias and Ticao
Islands, P. I.; landings are supported by naval
gunfire and Marine aircraft.
Submarine TUNA (SS-203) lands supplies on northeast
coast of Borneo.
United States naval vessel damaged, Iwo Jima area:
Attack transport BOLIVAR (APA-34), by coastal
defense gun,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Oiler HARIO, by mine, off French Indochina,
18 d. 10'N., 109 d. 40'E.
03/05 Mon. United States naval vessel damaged:
LST 641, by collision, Iwo Jima area,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Submarine chaser NO. 110, by Army aircraft,
Netherlands East Indies area,
08 d. 36'S., 119 d. 19'E.
Minesweeper No. 15, by submarine TILEFISH (SS-307),
north of Ryukyu Islands.
03/08 Thu. Inter-American Conference, in session at Mexico City
since 21 February 1945, ends.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Transport No. 143, by Army aircraft, Formosa area,
23 d. 35'N., 121 d. 35'E.
03/10 Sat. Naval attack group (Rear Adm. F. B. Royal) lands Army
troops near Zamboanga, Mindanao, P. I.; landing is
supported by naval gunfire and Army aircraft.
03/11 Sun. United States naval landing craft ferry Army troops
across the Rhine River at the Remagen bridgehead,
Germany; this operation continues throughout March
1945.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Carrier RANDOLPH (CV-15), by suicide plane,
Ulithi, Caroline Islands area,
10 d. 01'N., 139 d. 40'E.
German submarines sunk:
U-681, by naval land-based aircraft (VPB-103),
off western France,
49 d. 53'N., 06 d. 31'W.
U-2515 and U-2530, by Army aircraft, Hamburg,
Germany.
03/13 Tue. Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Coast defense vessel NO. 66, by Army aircraft,
South China Sea,
23 d. 30'N., 117 d. 10'E.
03/14 Wed. Submarine ROCK (SS-274) lands supplies on Lombok
Island, Netherlands East Indies.
03/15 Thu. Cruiser and destroyer task force (Rear Adm. J. L.
McCrea) bombards enemy shore installations on
Matsuwa, Kurile Islands.
03/16 Fri. Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, is declared secured.
Army forces supported by destroyer gunfire land on
Basilan Island, Sulu Archipelago, P. I.
United States naval vessel damaged:
LST 928, by grounding, Iwo Jima area,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Coast defense vessel NO. 69, by Army aircraft,
South China Sea,
19 d. 02'N., 110 d. 56'E.
03/17 Sat. United States naval vessel damaged:
Submarine SPOT (SS-413), by naval gunfire,
off Formosa,
23 d. 00'N., 122 d. 00'E.
03/18 Sun. Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Adm.
M. A. Mitscher) bomb airfields on Kyushu, Japan.
Army troops are landed on southeast coast of Panay,
P. I., by naval task group (Rear Adm. A. D. Struble)
under cover of cruiser and destroyer gunfire.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Carrier ENTERPRISE (CV-6), by horizontal bomber,
off Kyushu, Japan,
30 d. 50'N., 133 d. 42'E.
Carrier YORKTOWN (CV-10), by horizontal bomber,
off Kyushu, Japan,
30 d. 40'N., 133 d. 49'E.
Carrier INTREPID (CV-11), by suicide plane and
accidentally by United States naval gunfire,
off Kyushu, Japan,
30 d. 47'N., 133 d. 50'E.
LST 635, by grounding, Philippine Islands area,
11 d. 05'N., 125 d. 05'E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Transport No. 18, by submarine SPRINGER (SS-414),
south of the Ryukyu Islands,
26 d. 33'N., 127 d. 11'E.
German submarine sunk:
U-866, by destroyer escorts MENGES (DE-320), MOSLEY
(DE-321), PRIDE (DE-323), and LOWE (DE-325),
northwest Atlantic area,
43 d. 18'N., 61 d. 08'W.
03/19 Mon. Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Adm. M.
A. Mitscher) bomb airfields on Kyushu, and shipping
at Kure and Kobe, Honshu, Japan.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Carrier ESSEX (CV-9), accidentally by United States
naval gunfire, off Shikoku, Japan,
32 d. 10'N., 134 d. 20'E.
Carrier FRANKLIN (CV-13), by horizontal bomber,
off Kyushu, Japan,
32 d. 01'N., 133 d. 57'E.
Carrier WASP (CV-18), by dive bomber,
off Shikoku, Japan,
32 d. 16'N., 134 d. 05'E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
River gunboat SUMA, by Army mine,
off Shanghai, China,
32 d. 00'N., 120 d. 00'E.
03/20 Tue. Submarine PERCH (SS-313) lands personnel on east coast
of Borneo.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Carrier ENTERPRISE (CV-6), accidentally by United
States naval gunfire, off Japan,
30 d. 01'N., 134 d. 30'E.
Destroyer HALSEY POWELL (DD-686), by suicide plane,
off Japan,
30 d. 27'N., 134 d. 28'E.
Submarine DEVILFISH (SS-292), by suicide plane,
off Volcano Islands,
25 d. 36'N., 137 d. 30'E.
Cargo ship HERCULES (AK-41), by collision,
Iwo Jima area,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
03/21 Wed. Japanese aircraft make first known operational use of
piloted bombs in unsuccessful attack against Admiral
Mitscher's fast carrier task force.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Submarine chaser NO. 33 and cable layer TATEISHI,
by Army aircraft, South China Sea,
11 d. 50'N., 109 d. 18'E.
03/22 Thu. United States naval vessel damaged:
LST 727, by grounding, Iwo Jima area,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
03/23 Fri. Aircraft of fast carrier task force (Vice Adm. M. A.
Mitscher) commence daily strikes against the enemy on
Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Destroyer HAGGARD (DD-555), by intentional ramming
of enemy submarine I-371, Philippine Sea,
22 d. 57' N., 132 d. 19'E.
Submarine SEAHORSE (SS-304), by horizontal bomber,
Ryukyu Islands area,
26 d. 00'N., 128 d. 00'E.
Ocean tug ZUNI (ATF-95), by grounding,
Iwo Jima area,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Submarine I-371, by destroyer HAGGARD (DD-555),
Philippine Sea,
22 d. 57'N., 132 d. 19'E.
03/24 Sat. Battleships (Vice Adm. W. A. Lee) bombard Okinawa,
Ryukyu Islands.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Coast defense vessel NO. 68 and torpedo boat
TOMOZURU, by carrier-based aircraft,
South China Sea,
28 d. 25'N., 124 d. 32'E.
03/25 Sun. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers (Rear Adm. M. L.
Deyo) bombard Kerama Retto and southeast coast of Okinawa,
Ryukyu Islands; bombardment of Okinawa area continues
daily.
United States naval vessels damaged, Okinawa area:
Destroyer KIMBERLEY (DD-521), by suicide plane,
26 d. 02'N., 126 d. 54'E.
Destroyer escort SEDERSTROM (DE-31), by collision,
25 d. 00'N., 130 d. 00'E.
Light minelayer ROBERT H. SMITH (DM-23), by suicide
plane,
26 d. 00'N., 128 d. 00'E.
High-speed transport GILMER (APD-11), by suicide plane,
26 d. 00'N., 127 d. 20'E.
High-speed transport KNUDSEN (APD-101), by horizontal
bomber,
26 d. 12'N., 127 d. 04'E.
03/26 Mon. Army forces are landed on Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, by
naval attack group (Rear Adm. I. N. Kiland) under cover of
naval bombardment and carrier aircraft attack.
Army forces are landed at Talisay Point, Cebu, P. I., by
naval attack group (Capt. A. T. Sprague) under cover of
cruiser and destroyer gunfire and air attack.
United States naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer HALLIGAN (DD-584), by mine, Okinawa area,
26 d. 10'N., 127 d. 30'E.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Battleship NEVADA (BB-36), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 127 d. 18'E.
Light cruiser BILOXI (CL-80), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 127 d. 18'E,
Destroyer MURRAY (DD-576), by dive bomber,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 129 d. 46'E.
Destroyer PORTERFIELD (DD-682), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 127 d. 18'E,
Destroyer O'BRIEN (DD-725), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 16'N., 127 d. 26'E.
Destroyer CALLAGHAN (DD-792), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 127 d. 43'E.
Destroyer escort FOREMAN (DE-633), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 127 d. 18'E.
High-speed minesweeper DORSEY (DMS-1), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 127 d. 18'E.
Minelayer SKIRMISH (AM-303), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 25'N., 127 d. 05'E.
Submarine chaser PC-1133, by grounding,
Philippine Islands area,
10 d. 13'N., 123 d. 51'E.
03/27 Tue. Army troops, supported by destroyers and motor torpedo
boats and air attack, land on Caballo Island near
Corregidor, Luzon, P. I.
United States naval vessels damaged, Okinawa area:
Carrier ESSEX (CV-9), by aircraft operational casualty,
25 d. 10'N., 132 d. 05'E.
[The landing was "less than optimal"? LWJ]
High-speed minesweeper SOUTHARD (DMS-10), by suicide
plane,
26 d. 00'N., 127 d. 00'E.
Light minelayer ADAMS (DM-27), by suicide plane,
26 d. 17'N., 127 d. 40 E.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
Cable layer ODATE, by submarine TRIGGER (SS-237),
East China Sea,
30 d. 40'N., 127 d. 50'E.
03/28 Wed. United States naval vessel sunk:
Minesweeper SKYLARK (AM-63), by mine, Okinawa area,
26 d. 20'N., 127 d. 41'E.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Attack cargo ship WYANDOT (AKA-92), by horizontal
bomber, Okinawa area,
26 d. 00'N., 127 d. 00'E.
Repair ship AGENOR (ARL-3), by collision, Iwo Jima area,
24 d. 46'N., 141 d. 19'E.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Coast defense vessel NO. 33, by carrier-based aircraft,
off Kyushu, Japan,
31 d. 45'N., 131 d. 45'E.
Frigate MIKURA, by submarine THREADFIN (SS-410), off
Kyushu, Japan,
31 d. 49'N., 131 d. 44'E.
Minesweeper NO. 11, by Army aircraft,
Netherlands East Indies area,
05 d. 06'S., 119 d. 18'E.
Patrol boat No. 108, by Army aircraft,
Netherlands East Indies area,
04 d. 15'S., 119 d. 05'E.
03/29 Thu. Aircraft from two carrier task groups (Rear Adm. J. J.
Clark and Rear Adm. F. C. Sherman) attack airfields and
shipping in the Kagoshima Bay area, Kyushu, Japan.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
Submarine chaser NO. 192, by Army aircraft,
off Formosa,
22 d. 40'N., 120 d. 15'E.
Coast defense vessel NO. 18, by Army aircraft,
South China Sea,
14 d. 44'N., 109 d. 16'E.
Coast defense vessel NO. 84, by submarine HAMMERHEAD
(SS-364), South China Sea,
14 d. 30'N., 109 d. 16'E.
Coast defense vessel NO. 130, by Army aircraft,
South China Sea,
14 d. 44'N., 109 d. 16'E.
03/30 Fri. United States naval vessels damaged:
Heavy cruiser INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 25'N., 127 d. 30'E.
High-speed transport ROPER (APD-20), by collision,
Philippine Sea,
20 d. 57'N., 132 d. 05'E.
German submarines sunk:
U-2340, by Army aircraft, Hamburg, Germany.
U-96, U-429, U-3508, by Army aircraft,
Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
U-72, U-329, U-430, U-870, U-884, U-886,
by Army aircraft, Bremen, Germany.
03/31 Sat. United States naval vessels damaged:
Heavy cruiser PENSACOLA (CA-24), by collision,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 10'N., 127 d. 19'E.
Light minelayer ADAMS (DM-27), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area,
26 d. 12'N., 127 d. 08'E.
Seaplane tender (small) COOS BAY (AVP-25), by collision,
Central Pacific area,
12 d. 07'N., 156 d. 27'E.
Attack transport HINSDALE (APA-120), by suicide plane,
Okinawa area, 25 d. 54'N., 127 d. 49'E.
LST 724 and LST 884, by suicide plane, Okinawa area,
25 d. 59'N., 127 d. 50'E.
Japanese submarine sunk:
I-8, by destroyers MORRISON (DD-560) and STOCKTON
(DD-646), Okinawa area,
25 d. 29'N., 128 d. 35'E.
German submarines sunk sometime in March:
U-348, U-350, U-1167, by Army aircraft,
Hamburg, Germany.